How to Fix DELL Diagnostic Error 2000-0142

When your hard drive is failing, you will notice obvious symptoms like constant data corruption, freezing when copying or saving data, long startup times, and constant repair screens during boot. However, you cannot be certain that the problem lies with the HDD unless you perform a Pre-boot System Analysis (PSA).

Dell computers offer a comprehensive PSA, known as ePSA, which tests all hardware components, including memory, drives, fans, input devices, and HDDs. To run ePSA on a Dell computer, restart your PC, press F12 to enter the boot menu, and then select ‘diagnostics’.

Following the mentioned symptoms, it is concerning when users receive a diagnostic error indicating a disk failure. This error contains the following information:

Error Code 0142

MSG: Error Code 2000-0142

MSG: Hard Drive 1 – Self Test Unsuccessful  Status 79 or Msg: Hard Drive 0 – S/N WX51E43XWS20, short self-test unsuccessful

The given code and message can be used by Dell Technical Support to help diagnose the problem. Do you want to continue testing?

This error will put your PC into an endless startup repair loop. So, what does this error mean, and what are the solutions? This article will address these questions and provide potential solutions.

Error 2000-0142

Simply put, this error means that the ePSA could not successfully read information from the hard drive. As a result, your computer will either not start or will have trouble starting because retrieving information from the disk is unreliable. Windows will attempt a startup repair but will not succeed. Below are some reasons why you might encounter this error message on your Dell computer:

• Faulty or misaligned cabling in your computer’s case, connecting your hard drive to the motherboard.
• Corrupted data or a corrupted MBR (Master Boot Record) on the hard disk, causing the device to crash.
• Device failure, such as mechanical damage to the hard drive. Overheating and mechanical knocks can lead to warped platters, broken reader heads, and broken spindles, making data retrieval unreliable.

If you receive this error, it means your drive is dead or dying, and failure is imminent. It is crucial to back up your data before complete failure occurs. You can attempt to revive the disk using the first two methods below to pull any important data off it. Remember that if the method works, you will still need a hard drive replacement because, 95% of the time, these hard drives do not last beyond a week after this error.

Method 1: Perform a disk check in Command Prompt using a Windows installation disk

The Master Boot Record holds information on the location of your OS and kernel. This tells your computer where to load the OS from. If the MBR is corrupt, this method will attempt to recover any corrupt data. If it works, we recommend backing up your data to a new disk, as the error you experienced indicates imminent disk failure. You will need a Windows disk (Win 7) for this method. You can find our guide on making a Windows 10 disk [here] or a Windows 7 disk [here].

1. Insert the Windows 7 installation disc in the drive and start the computer.
2. Press a key when prompted, or press F8 on startup and choose the DVD drive from the boot menu.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. Click the operating system that you want to repair and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7. Type chkdsk /f /r and press Enter to fix bad sectors and repair corrupt data.

Method 2: Reinstall Windows

This method will also correct any corrupt Windows files or any corrupt or missing MBR data. Follow this guide to perform a clean install of Windows 10. If you prefer, you can install Windows 8 or Windows 7. If this works for you, we recommend backing up your data, as the error you experienced indicates imminent disk failure.

Method 3: Replace Your Hard Drive

If methods 1 and 2 do not work, your drive has experienced permanent failure and needs replacement. Consider using SSDs (Solid State Drives) instead of HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) to avoid similar issues in the future. SSDs are more reliable as they have no moving parts, unlike HDDs, which are more prone to failure and generally last 3-5 years.

If your system is under warranty, contact Dell support with the error, and they will replace the drive. Your manufacturer warranty usually covers a failed HDD.

Method 4: Slave the Failing Hard Disk to Recover Data

If methods 1 and 2 fail, you can still try to recover your data. Although there is no guarantee, you will need an external USB HDD converter, which costs about $10. Alternatively, connect it as a secondary drive (not the primary drive with the OS) to another computer. Desktop PCs typically have extra cables for connecting another SATA drive. Use either method to attempt to read your disk. If only the MBR sector or Windows files are corrupted, you might still be able to access your data.

Data recovery experts can retrieve your information by swapping read heads or transferring platters to functioning heads. However, this is a precision process and can be very costly, so weigh the value of the data to be saved against the cost.